Predictors of post-kidney transplantation complications among Egyptian recipients—1-year follow-up

Abstract

Background Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment modality for patients with end-stage kidney disease. We aimed to identify predictors for post-transplantation complications. Methods A prospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up on 40 recipients (with their donors) were recruited and followed up for 1 year after transplantation. The patients were classified into two groups according to development of complications or not. Results It was found that renal recipient had significantly lower mean age compared to donors (30.55 ± 10.24 vs. 41.28 ± 9.83 (years); p < 0.001). The reported complications were hypertension (42.5%), proteinuria (17.5%), surgical difficulty (17.5%), chronic rejection (12.5%), DM (7.5%), and other less common complications. Death occurred in six recipients. Significant predictors for complications were history of DM (OR = 3.429; 95% CI = 1.148–5.058; p = 0.044), BUN (OR = 2.501; 95% CI = 1.094–4.007; p = 0.038), creatinine (OR = 1.90; 95% CI = 1.025–2.806; p = 0.015), older age (OR = 1.854; 95% CI = 1.090–3.195; p = 0.033), pre-transplantation leucocytic count (OR = 1.775; 95% CI = 1.057–3.901; p = 0.039), and LDL (OR = 1.051; 95% CI = 1.009–2.441; p = 0.047). Elevated PTH in pre-transplantation showed significantly slight protective effect against development of complications (OR = 0.915; 95% CI = 0.624–0.957; p = 0.031). Conclusion Complications are common after kidney transplant in our population and are associated with history of DM, pre-transplantation BUN, creatinine, and older age, while elevated pretransplant PTH showed slightly protective effect.